AFLW 2024: Geelong forward Mikayla Bowen sees Richmond fixture as both “incredible opposition and opportunity”
Geelong’s Mikayla Bowen knows Monique Conti and top four Richmond pose a big threat to the Cats’ bid to stay in finals calculations. Plus, the special additions to the Cats’ pride jumper.
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Geelong forward Mikayla Bowen says the Cats could run with a tag on Monique Conti but would also back their own threats after overcoming a similar dilemma against a Sydney ball-winner last week.
Reigning league medallist Conti, who is set to join Geelong’s new WNBL team following the AFLW season, has helped put the Tigers in prime position for a top four finish as they pose a threat to the Cats’ own finals hopes come Saturday.
But Bowen saw their Pride Round match at Punt Road as an “incredible opportunity” to play a high-quality game against top opposition.
“You’ve got to respect Richmond... the likes of Mon Conti and Katie Brennan, they’re massive threats for Richmond, but again it all comes back to us and what we can control,” Bowen said.
“We feel like we have massive threats throughout our team as well.
“I think she’s (Monique) an incredible player... whether or not we send someone to her that’s more a (coach) Dan (Lowther) conversation and something, if that is the case we’ll absolutely run with it, if it isn’t we’ll look to back ourselves in again.
“Same as previous weeks, (Sydney’s) Laura Gardiner for example, we probably could have put someone to her... but again we’ll back ourselves and if we need to make adjustments throughout the game, we can.”
Finding feet up forward
Bowen, in her third season at the Cattery after crossing from West Coast, has enjoyed a successful shift from the wing to the forward line this year, the 23-year-old’s tackle intensity inside 50 a feature as she enjoys career-high numbers in disposals (17), score involvements (4.1) and forward 50 ground ball gets (2.1).
She acknowledged there was “room for improvement” when it came to the Cats’ goalkicking inefficiency — Bowen herself kicking 3.6 so far — but believed the team was headed in the right direction in that space.
“It’s such a connected line, if we are working in isolation it doesn’t work as well as we need it to,” Bowen said.
“It’s a massive focus for us to work together in that space, talls, smalls and understanding your roles and when and where not to go, I have no doubt in our team, if they’re in the moment and need to kick the goal they will and if they need to hand it off they will, it's just understanding the time and the moment and your role within that piece.”
Proud of round and its place in AFLW
Bowen has seen Pride Round in the AFLW “evolve and grow” each year, adding it was more a celebration than protest.
“I think it sets the standard for what inclusion and pride should be throughout sport worldwide,” she said.
Bowen, Geelong’s inclusion and diversity coordinator, was heavily involved in the Cats’ jumper design this year, which keeps existing elements of previous designs but adds new details, including words submitted from players and people from across the club.
Bowen’s own submission proved an unusual one: “Ryecroft Road, Darlington”.
“That was my home address back in WA and the first place I felt comfortable enough to come out to my mum as bisexual,” Bowen said.
“A nervous moment for me but one I’ve grown so much off the back of and one I love to share my story of in hopes to help others.
“I like to have it a bit cryptic on there because it encourages people to ask questions.”
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Originally published as AFLW 2024: Geelong forward Mikayla Bowen sees Richmond fixture as both “incredible opposition and opportunity”
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